January 24th, 2010 | Author: gabriel

It’s actually pretty cool for a sponsor to organize team-building events for their scholars… Well, that’s what IDA did for their National Infocomm Scholars. They organized a teambuilding event to Pulau Ubin which consists of both current scholars and alumnus. So, the age group is actually quite large… From those waiting to go Uni, to those who have been working for 2-3 years.. Yea, and I suppose it’s also a ‘braniac’ outing…

I think there’s only about 35 participants who showed up. I was there with my 2 other colleagues who so happened to be in this scholarship programme where we’re all working in the same department. We had our breakfast at Changi Village Hotel (yes, there’s a hotel at Changi Village) and a quick ice-breaking session before taking to ferry to Pulau Ubin. The highlight for the day’s programme is an Amazing Race session at the island. But of course, it’s nothing like the Amazing Race show. There are just some brainy questions, questions to be answered along the way while cycling to the east (Chek Jawa) and to the west of Ubin, and several station games.

The programme was pretty simple I would say although there were a few injuries and broken bones involved, but I think it’s actually a good approach to have a somewhat networking method cause we can really make friends through events like this. After the Ubin programme, they really fed us good.. With a lunch buffet back in Changi Village Hotel followed by another round of tea-session after a de-brief.

All in all, I think it’s a  Saturday well spent although I actually woke up when the sky was still dark… But learnt a couple of few useful things… Like there’s a direct bus to Pasir Ris… And Changi Village.

January 14th, 2010 | Author: gabriel

I’ve gotten my Singapore PR Approval! After waiting for 3 months+, I now have a Singapore IC number and have all the privileges close to a Singapore citizen.

I can buy property, apply for credit cards, get government funding… And can use the fast lane at the immigration check point. haha

Hmm.. I’m sure I can think of more benefits of becoming a PR….

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January 02nd, 2010 | Author: gabriel

Celebrated the last day of 2009 in SG by having a year-end celebration in my company after working during the morning hours. Yvonne stayed over last night cause there was a football match and she didn’t have to work on NYE. When I reached home after lunch, everyone was busy with their own affairs – Yin Sin’s watching show, Yvonne’s playing Nancy Drew, Jit-Vern and Chee Lim on their comp, Ian’s out with his girlfriend, Yee Weng still not back from work.

Spent the afternoon playing Warcraft with Jit-Vern. Us housemates finally found a game where all four of us can play, even Ian. For dinner, we met up with Ian and Mel at Aston’s Specialties in Suntec. It’s food is good and the price is reasonable. We went there early to beat the crowd at about 6pm. My last meal in 2009 – A medium-rare steak

steak

Spending the last moments with the people that I’ve always been close with…

ian-melvon-gab-ys

 

 

ian-jv

When we finished our dinner, it was just like 730-745pm. It was still damn early. Initially, the plan was to meet at Marina Barrage with Chee Lim after dinner but well, after dinner was still too early. Ian accompanied Melanie back first while the remaining 4 of us just walked about Suntec Area. We walked around Millennia Walk cause some haven’t been there before…

After what seems like point-less walking, we decided to follow Yvonne back to Kembangan. She needed to pack her stuff for another round of camping at our place. We err.. watched Godzilla on Channel 5. Hahaha… We really didn’t know what to do… Actually, we had a few choices –

  • (1) to be in a crowd to enjoy the NYE’s atmosphere at Marina Barrage. There we can watch fireworks, drink and all…
  • (2) to be in a non-crowded area and just spend some quality time with a small group of people.

And naturally, we chose the most logical thing to do – option 2. *smirk*. Of course Chee Lim wasn’t very happy as she’s more of a partying-kind but we all 4 (five including Ian) of us unanimously chose to stay-in without even discussing with each other.

So, we headed back to Hougang. We played our new board game, Urban Legends, bought by Yvonne to the ‘house’ for Christmas.

urban-legend

We had our leftover Chivas and Coke from the Xmas Party and count-down together with the TV. We can see the concert, the fireworks clearly from the TV. And best of all, no need to be crammed up like a sardine. We ended the night by watching Star Wars Ep 4 on my computer. New Year’s Eve may not sound exciting and wild, but we sure had our own kind of fun… *sigh* I wonder if this is a sign that we’re getting old.

Cheers to a better year! With good health and good wealth!

cheers!

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December 31st, 2009 | Author: gabriel

I can’t believe it’s the last day of 2009… How fast time flies this year around… And since it’s the last day of the year, I shall make it a habit to reminisce what I’ve done/achieved over the past one year. Well, I did that for 2008 and I think it’s quite good.. Good summary for my own pleasure reading next time.. Did a lot of travelling in the period between end-of-examination and starting-work

  1. Completed my Electrical & Electronics Engineering Degree in NTU with a 2nd Class Upper Honours
  2. Went to Alor Setar and Langkawi for the first time
  3. Went to Phuket for the first time with my family
  4. Went to Jakarta and Bandung for the first time with family
  5. Went backpacking in 2 countries for 18 days – Cambodia & Vietnam (which I still have not blogged about yet and lots of experience gained there)
  6. Started work in SingTel in the Mobile VAS Planning Department (with many havoc days)
  7. Celebrated my 2-year anniversary with my darling girlfriend
  8. Shifted to a new ‘base’ in Hougang, Singapore
  9. Bought my very own desktop with my own money
  10. Built an Ipoh-community right here in Singapore with many get-together and gatherings and crazy fun times

 

The list is not as extensive as the previous year but can’t really think what else is there. Cause if to go into the details, have to really crack my brain and list them all out. Anyway, even in the Ipoh house, there’s so many changes… There’s a new bed-room, new 42” LCD TV, new hi-fi…. A lot of new things.

On the work-related wise, I’ve been immersed with work ever since I’ve started work and hope that 2010 will be a better year after getting more used to the environment and surroundings. Will probably make some new year resolution for me to meet later on…

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December 31st, 2009 | Author: gabriel

My mum makes the most delicious pineapple tarts… I’ve tried that first batch in KL on Xmas Eve and I’m yearning for more… Upon request, she decided to make another batch, but this time, she has help from many little helpers…

helpers

Grace and Annie helped by squeezing out the batter from the shaper,

pastry

My mom have already prepared the pineapple stuffing. They look like worms

pineapple-filling

Yin Sin rolled the pineapple fillings onto the pastry,

 pineapple-tart-filling

 

And arrange them nicely before putting them into the oven…

pre-baked-pineapple-tarts

And finally, the final product!

IMG_0662

 

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